Tolerance Should Be Practised By All

NAMIBIA’S Constitution defines us as a democratic society which should be practising tolerance and non-discrimination and subscribing to the principles of press freedom, but increasingly the actions of various political parties and their leaders are exhibiting the contrary.

Swapo has already become notorious for the political witch-hunting set in motion after the formation of the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) and now it seems its main opposition is about to follow suit.The reaction to the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation television crew at the last two rallies of the RDP coalition in Okahandja recently was deplorable and uncalled for.For a party which stated in its manifesto that it recognises the critical role of a free and independent media in a democratic society and is concerned about the increasing attempts to stifle the media by the Government, one would expect more maturity in approach towards media houses, even with regard the NBC with its real or presumed bias in favour of the ruling party and against the opposition RDP in particular.We feel it necessary to remind the RDP that one of the promises in its manifesto was to protect and promote vibrant free and independent media.Since its inception the party has also been calling for a level playing field and has accused the NBC of being a propaganda tool for the ruling party. When NBC turns up to cover an RDP coalition rally one would expect the alliance to allow their presence even if they failed to attend other press conferences in the past.Instead certain RDP leaders, led by Rudolph Kamburona, unleashed a string of verbal abuse at the news crew of the NBC. Reports emanating from media who attended the rally two weeks ago state that Kamburona said ‘you can even voetsek from this rally’ while looking angrily at the NBC reporter and cameraman who were covering the rally that took place at the Oshetu informal settlement.At last Saturday’s rally another RDP leader, Claudia Namises, continued the crusade against the NBC, instructing the news crew to leave.In the process, the party which has roundly condemned and denounced the doctrine of ‘no-go areas’ in terms of which political parties are ‘barred’ from political activity in so-called strongholds, now appears to be practising precisely what it has condemned.The reporters stood their ground and remained to cover the rally.There is no denial that the NBC’s coverage during the election period, and at most other times, is skewed towards the ruling party. But that is a separate matter on which the NBC has and should be taken to task.And it is very unjust and absurd to target reporters who are not responsible for ultimate coverage and airtime on the television.The RDP, or any other opposition party for that matter, needs to move its focus away from seeing the NBC in terms of a terrain of debate (attack), and towards perceiving it as a potential information tool for governance and administration.Although Swapo opposed the then South West Africa Broadcasting Corporation being used as a propaganda medium by the apartheid regime, the party failed to convert the NBC into a public broadcaster, and uses it in precisely the same way as its predecessor did. RDP leader Hidipo Hamutenya is well aware of this as he was the country’s first Information Minister.It appears that most political parties want the media to be their megaphone, and soon get irritated if they are not.More widespread practice of, and increasing familiarity with, as well as acceptance of independent journalism would take us much further towards becoming a truly democratic and tolerant society. Which is why it is in the interests of Namibians in general, and the spectrum of political parties, to work towards the NBC serving the nation, rather than political masters, through becoming a public broadcaster.In the meantime, however, Namibia has a pluralism of media – some of it independent, others controlled by corporate interests, others Government and party political – and we should tolerate this diversity even if we do not accept it.We would therefore call on all leadership, most particularly the RDP in this instance, to resist the temptation to attack those who do not favour them, and to practice tolerance even when it may be tempting to do otherwise.